Voting mechanism for voting-machines.



G. G. ABBOTT. VOTING MECHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6. 1913.

1,081,288. Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

8 SHEETSSHEET l.

WITNESSES: IN VE/V TOR A TTOR/VEY COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH c0, WASHINGTON, D. c.

O. G. ABBOTT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.6. 1913.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGIIAPH CO..\\'I\SHINGTDN, n. c.

VOTING MECHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES.

WITNESSES: )X M m 1W G. G. ABBOTT.

VOTING MECHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 0. 1913.

1,081,288, Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

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FOR THE YES NO YES WITNESSES: INVE/V r01? 320 320 A 7TOB/VEY COLUMBIA PLANOGRAI'H couwAsuma-rcu. n c,

G. C. ABBOTT.

VOTING MECHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6. 1913.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

8 SHEETSSHEBT 4.

INVENTOH M Q WITNESSES:

' A TTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cn.,\vAsmNoToN, n, c.

C. O. ABBOTT.

VOTING MECHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6. 1913.

, 1,081,288. Patentd Dec. 16, 1913.

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O. G. ABBOTT.

VOTING MECHANISM FOR VOTING-MACHINES APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6. 1913.

1,081,288. Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

8 SHEET SSHEET 6.

. Mq r 2mm M COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH COWWASHINGTON. n. c.

C. C. ABBOTT.

VOTING MECHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. s. 1913.

1,081,288. Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

Mil G 88 W/T/VESSES: INVENTOI? A TTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON. n. c

1 0. 0. ABBOTT. VOTING MECHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6, 1913.

1,081,288. Patenwd Dec. 16, 1913.

,8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

WITNESSES: 8 INl/EN r01? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. ABBOTT, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO TRIUMPH VOTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW JERSEY.

VOTING MECHANISM FOR VOTING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

Application filed January 6, 1913. Serial No. 740,423.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES C. ABBOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsfield, county of Berkshire, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Voting Mechanism for Voting-Machines, of which the fOllOWing is a specification.

This invention relates to voting machines of the general type shown and described in Letters Patent No. 914,006, granted to me March 2, 1909, and also disclosed in applications for Letters Patent filed by me July 28, 1909 and February 18, 1911, Serial Nos. 509,991 and 608,388, respectively.

The general objects of the invention are to simplify and generally improve machines of this character, to provide mechanism which may be adapted to a wide variety of ballot requirements by slight changes in the arrangement of parts, to insure the correct and positive operation of the counting mechanism even though the voting keys may have been somewhat carelessly manipulated, and to prevent fraudulent operation of the machine or injury thereto under abnormal conditions or when improperly used.

WVith the above and other objects in view, I have devised the novel mechanism which I will now describe, referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and using reference characters to indicate the several parts.

Figure 1 is a rear elevation, partly broken away, of the voting mechanism assembled, the parts being in normal position or that occupied by them before any of the mechanisms of the machine have been operated; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 22, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the question voting mechanism; Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse verticalsection showing one of the lines of reg ular voting members and one line of question voting members, and also showing one of the counters; Fi 5 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of that part of the voting face of the machine which is arranged for question voting; Figs. 6, 7 8 and 8 are enlarged detail sectional views illustrating the operation of the mechanism which insures the proper cooperation of the voting members and counters; Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views of the interlocking devices employed in connection with the quest-ion voting members; Fig. 11 is a transverse section, and Fig. 12 a front elevation of the question restricting mechanism; Fig. 13 is a detail perspective View of the yielding retaining and positioning devices for the question restricting bolt-s; Fig. 14 is a detail rear elevation partly broken away, of the question restricting bolts and the connecting bars cooperating therewith; Fig. 15 is a fragmentary front elevation of the means for locking the pins which connect the voting members with the party bars; Fig. 16 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 1616, Fig. 17, the locking devices for the resetting bars being omitted in order to show parts beneath; Fig. 17 is a detail elevation, partly broken away, of one end of the lower party line and the corresponding end of the upper question line; Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 16 with certain parts removed; Fig. 19 is an elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 18; Fig. 20 is a plan view of the locking devices for one of the resetting bars, showing the parts omitted from Fig. 16; Fig. 21 is a detail plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 15; Fig. 22 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of the counter grid or carrier and the operating mechanism therefor.

The machine, as to its general organization and principles of operation, is of the type fully described in Letters Patent No. 91t,006, hereinbefore referred to. Said machine comprises mechanism for casting the votes, or by which the voter indicates his choice, herein, for convenience, referred to as voting mechanism; mechanism for registering the vote so indicated, herein referred to as counting mechanism; and mechanism operated by the voter when he approaches and leaves the machine, and herein referred to as main operating mechanism, which cooperates with the voting mechanism to unlock, reset, and lock the same, and which actuatesthe counting mechanism to register the vote. These mecha nisms, with the exception of certain keys and levers which are operated by the voter or the custodian, as hereinafter explained, are inclosed within an upright casing, the rear of which constitutes the voting face of the machine, and upon this are displayed the names of all candidates to be voted for. As shown in the patent above referred to the names of party candidates are placed in horizontal lines, called party lines, and the names of all candidates for the same office are placed in vertical columns, called oflice columns, although of course the mechanism may be arranged otherwise if preferred. Upon the voting face of the machine are also voting keys corresponding in number and arrangement to the candldate names, said keys forming parts of VOting members which extend within the casing and are there provided with counter dogs. The voting members are connected in party lines by party bars to each of which is connected a party lever which may be operated to move all of the voting members in that line into voting position, as in casting a straight party vote. The counting mechanism comprises a bodily movable counter carrier or grid which carries a plurality of counters equal in number to the voting members and which are engaged and disengaged by the counter dogs when the corresponding voting members are moved into and out of voting position. The main operating mechanism includes a main operating lever, arranged at one side of the casing, and which is moved in one direction when the voter passes to the machine and in the opposite direction when he leaves it. The entrance movement of this lever operates, through suitable mechanism, to unlock the voting mechanism, while the exit movement thereof operates to reset the voting mechanism and lock the same. Also, at each actuation of the main operating lever, movement is imparted to the counter grid, the entrance movement being an idle movement. At the exit movement of the counter grid all counters which have been engaged by voting members are operated to register a vote.

Referring to the drawings for a more particular description, 30 denotes the machine casing having a back plate 31 forming the voting face (see Fig. 2), 32 the individual voting keys, 37 the party bars, 33 the party levers and 34 the main operating lever which is rigidly secured to a main operating shaft 35 journaled in suitable supports, indicated by 36, within the casing.

39 (see Figs. 4 and 22) denotes the counter grid bars and 40 (see also Figs. 6, 7 and 8) the counters carried thereby. 169 (Fig. 22) denotes an arm fixed to the main operating shaft 35 and connected by a link 161 with a bracket 162 secured to a main operating bar 163 which is guided for longitudinal reciprocation in one of the supports 36 and in a similar support 164 at the opposite side of the casing. 165 denotes upright counter carrier actuating shafts journaled in the supports 36 and 164 and provided at their lower ends with pinions which are engaged by racks 166 formed on the main operating bar 163. Fixed to the shafts 165 are eccentrics coiiperating with eccentric straps 167 secured to the end bars 168 of the counter grid or carrier. These parts, as to their general principles of operation, are all substantially the equivalents of the corresponding parts in Letters Patent No. 914,006, above referred to, except as hereinafter pointed out.

The voting members comprise oscillatory shafts 41 to the outer ends of which the voting keys 32 are rigidly attached, said keys, as herein shown, being of substantially the form more fully described in Letters Patent No. 1,013,355, granted to me January 2, 1912, although any other suitable form may be used if desired. The shafts 41 are journaled in upright portions of frame members 42 (see particularly Fig. 4) and carry at their inner ends the counter dogs 43 which cooperate with counter pins 44 projecting through openings 45 in horizontal portions of said frame members 42. The parts last referred to may, if desired, be substantially as described and shown in Letters Patent No. 999,621, granted to me Au gust 1, 1911, except as hereinafter pointed out.

38 denotes resetting bars, which correspond in number with the party bars, and 47 (see Figs. 1 and 17) a locking bar.

48 denotes a cam bar which is connected by a link 49 with an arm 50 rigidly secured to the main operating shaft Said cam bar is formed with a series of cam slots 51 and is raised by the main operating mechanism when the voter passes to the machine and lowered when he leaves it. The party bars and resetting bars are connected with the cam bar by means of double links 52 provided with pins 53 which pass through slots in the party and resetting bars and with pins 54 carrying rollers which engage said slots 51. Brackets 85 riveted to frame members 42 serve as guides for the cam bar and also for links 52, said links being retained in said guides by rods or elongated bolts 86. For convenience in assembling, one of said bolts 86 is shown as made in two parts connected by a sleeve 87. The inner end of each of the party levers extends through a slot 59 in the corresponding resetting bar and engages a slot 56 (see Fig. 17) in a link 57 (see Fig. 18) connected to the corresponding party bar 37 by a stud 58 extending through said slot 59.

65 denotes a plate riveted to each party bar and having an incline 66 which is engaged by a catch 67 pivoted on a pin 68 supported in the corresponding frame member 42. Each catch 67 is provided with two arms lying on opposite sides of locking bar 47 which is provided with an aperture 69 which receives a stud 70 lying between the arms of the catch.

71 denotes a plate rigidly secured to each resetting bar 38 and having notches adapted to be engaged by the corresponding catch to lock the resetting bar in its normal position.

7 9 (see particularly Fig. 19) denotes arms formed on the plate 71 which arms are pro vided at their ends wit-h inclined flanges 159 arranged to engage angular lugs 80 (see Figs. 1 and 17) on the locking bar 47 to raise said bar and with it the catches 67 when a resetting bar 38 is moved toward the left.

74 denotes arms on the voting member shafts 41, said arms carrying pins 7 5 which pass through slots 76 in the resetting bars 38 and through slots 77 in the party bars 37. Each voting member shaft 41 is also provided with a cam member or lug 78 (see Fig. 4) which is adapted to engage an interlocking member. These interlocking members, whose function it is to prevent the operation of more than one, or other predetermined number, of the voting members in the same office column, are not shown herein, as they form no part of the present invention, but may be substantially of the form disclosed in Letters Patent No. 900,905, granted to me October 13, 1908, in which the construction and operation of such members are fully explained. The voting member shafts 41 are of a non-circular form in cross-section, being, as shown most clearly in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, provided with longitudinal grooves 88. The cam members 78 are preferably formed with arms 89 (see Fig. 4) provided with openings shaped to receive and fit the non-circular shafts 41 so as to turn therewith. Said members 78 are held against longitudinal movement on said shafts by removable double pins 90 passing through the shafts between the arms 89. The arms 74 may be formed from blanks of sheet metal bent upon themselves at midlength and are also provided with openings shaped to receive and fit the non-circular shafts 41. Two arms 74 are provided for each voting member shaft, one of which arms embraces or incloses between its branches the corresponding party bar 37 and the other of which similarly incloses the corresponding resetting bar 38. The arms 74 and cam member 78 substantially fill the space between upright portions of the frame members 42 and the back plate 31, thereby holding the voting member shafts 41 against longitudinal movement in the framework.

The pins 75 (see particularly Figs. 4, 15 and 21) have heads 92 comprising coils which inclose the voting member shafts 41 and retain the pins thereon leaving said pins free to slide on said shafts.

93 denotes a locking slide or plate having projections 98 which engage the inner coils of the pins to lock them in their normal or engaging position or in their disengaging position. The locking slides, which correpins 75 is to connect the voting members with the party and resetting bars, movement of a party bar actuating the voting members of that party line, and locking of the resetting bars locking the voting members. In the normal position of the parts, the pins pass through both arms 74 of each voting member and through the slots 7 6 and 7 7 in the resetting and party bars respectively.

Also, in the normal position of the parts,

the locking plates lie in front of the inner:

coils of the pins and lock them against retraction. In Fig. 21 one pin has been retracted to disconnect the party bar from the voting member, and it is locked in retracted position by the engagement of a pro jection 98 of the locking plate with the inner coil of the pin, and which projection lies back of said coil. The locking slides are locked in the locking position by means of latches 99 which engage flanges 100 at the inner ends of the slides. The latches 99 are pivoted at 102 to upright portions of the frame members 42 and are provided with depending arms 101 for a purpose presently to be explained.

The portions 103 of the pins 75, which connect the straight parts thereof with the heads 92, pass through angular or L-shaped openings 104 in the horizontal portions of the frame members 42. Said openings 104 provide shoulders 105 which engage the portions 103 of the pins when said pins are in retracted position. Even when in retracted position, however, said pins remain in engagement with the arms 74 which embrace the resetting bars 38, and which are mounted on the voting member shafts 41 for rotation therewith. Engagement of the portions 103 of the pins with the shoulders 105 therefore holds the shafts 41 against rotation and prevents the operation, or move ment into voting position, of any voting member which has been disconnected from the corresponding party bar.

The counter dogs 43 (see Figs. 2, 4 and 7) are preferably blanked out and formed of sheet metal. Each of said dogs is provided with side flanges 106 formed with openings shaped to receive and fit the corresponding non-circular voting member shaft 41 so as to turn therewith. The edges of said flanges engage slots 160 formed in the horizontal portion of the frame member 42, by which means the counter dog is positioned. Slight looseness or longitudinal play of the voting member shafts in their bearings will therefore have no effect upon the position of the counter dogs with respect to the counters. It will be observed that the bearings for each shaft 41 and the slots 160 for positioning the corresponding counter dog are formed in the same frame part 42 in which are formed the openings 45 for positioning the counter pins 44. By this construction the counter dogs and counters are relatively positioned-with great accuracy, so that the proper engagement of a counter dog with its counter, when the corresponding voting key is turned into voting position, is made certain. Should it be desired to remove a voting member shaft 41 and the corresponding cam 7 8 from the machine, this can be done without removing the counter dog therewith, and without disconnecting the arms 74 from the party and resetting bars, owing to the shafts 41 fitting the openings in the arms 74 and counter dogs 43, sufliciently loosely to permit such withdrawal.

It will be understood that the normal or non-voting position of the voting members is substantially as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 17, and that in order to place a voting member in the voting position the corresponding key 32 is operated to turn the shaft 41 from left to right (as viewed from the voting face of the machine and as shown in Fig. 1) into substantially the position shown in Fig. 7. This causes the counter dog 43 to engage the counter pin 44 so that when the Voter leaves the machine the counter will be operated, as hereinbefore explained. The present invention comprises mechanism for insuring the proper cooperation of the counter dogs andcounters by positively moving into the full voting position all voting members which may have been incompletely operated, and for locking completely out of operation, during the actuation of the counting mechanism, all voting members which have not been moved a considerable amount from the non-voting position. To this end the following mechanism is provided: 107 (see Fig. 1) denotes actuating bars equal in number to the party lines of the machine. Said actuating bars are preferably formed of sheet metal and are substantially U-shaped in cross-section, the side portions thereof embracing the arms 74 which are connected with the resetting bars, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4. Said side portions are formed with slots 108 through which the shafts 41 pass, and by which said bars 107 are supported and guided in their movements, said slots being slightly inclined to the horizontal for a purpose which will presently be explained. Pivoted at 109 to each bar 107 is a link 110 which in turn is pivoted at 111 to double links 112 similar to the double links 52. Said double links 112 are connected by pins 113 carrying rollers engaging a second series of cam slots 114 in the cam bar 48. Said cam slots 114 are formed with short inclined portions 123 and with enlargements 124. The actuating bars 107 carry dogs 115 corresponding in number and arrangement with the voting members. Said dogs are pivoted on pins 116 extending across between the side portions of the bars 107, project through slots 117 (see Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 8) in the top portions of said bars, and are formed wit-h notches 118 which engage said top portions and limit the movement of said dogs on their pivots. The backs of the arms 74 which are connected with the resetting bars, or those portions 125 thereof connecting the branches, are extended laterally and beveled to form relatively sharp edges 119. Each dog 115 is formed with a forward or actuating surface 120 and with a lower or locking surface 121 which surfaces meet to form a relatively sharp angle or edge 122.

The operation of the mechanism last described is as follows, reference being had to Figs. 1, 6,7, 8 and 8 \Vhen the cam bar 48 is raised by the main operating mechanism, when the voter approaches the machine, the inclined portions 123 of the cam slots 114 cause the actuating bars 107 to be moved toward the left from the position shown in Fig. 1. Downward movement of the cam bar 48, when the voter leaves the machine, causes the bars 107 to be returned, or moved toward the right, to the position shown. If the voting keys have been carefully and properly manipulated, that is to say, if all have been left in either the full non-voting position or the full voting position, the only effect of the movement toward the right of the bars 107 upon the voting members is to lock in the non-voting position all members which are already in such position. This is accomplished by the locking surfaces 121 of the dogs 115 which are moved over the parts 125 of the arms 74 into such a. position (shown in Fig. 8) as will prevent turning of the voting member shafts a suflicient amount toward the voting position to per mit engagement of the counter dogs and counter pins, thereby preventing all possibility of accidental engagement of these parts. Suppose, however, that a voting key has been turned a slight distance from the non-voting position, or that a voter has failed to return a key fully to the non-voting position in scratching. This condition is illustrated in Fig. 8. Vith the voting member in this position, movement of the bar 107 to the right causes the locking surface 121 of the dog 115 to move over the part 125 of the arm 74 as before. In view of the inclination of the slots 108, however, the bar 107 has a slight downward movement as it is moved to the right. This causes the surface 121 of the dog 115 to engage the part 125 of a voting member improperly positioned as above stated and, if necessary, positively move the same a sufiicient distance toward the non-voting position to prevent all possibility of accidental engagement of the counter dog with the counter pin. Again, suppose that an operated voting member has not been moved completely into the full voting position. This condition is illustrated in Fig. 6. With the voting member in this position, movement of the bar 107 toward the right causes the actuating surface of the dog 115 to engage the end of the part of the voting member and carry the same with it, thereby turning the voting member into the full voting position shown in Fig. 7 and insuring the engagement of the counter dog with the counter pin. This operation also locks the counter dog and counter pin in engagement and prevents any possibility of accidental disengagement of these parts. It will be observed that the voting member is shown in substantially the same position in Figs. 6 and 8. These two figures illustrate two extreme positions. If turned to or beyond the posit-ion shown in Fig. 6, a voting member will be moved so as to bring its counter dog into engagement with the counter. If turned no farther than the position shown in Fig. 8, a voting member will be locked with its counter dog out of en gagement with the counter. By reason of the sharp edges 119 and 122 these two positions are nearly coincident. Should however the improbable event, of the two edges coming squarely together in such a way as to produce a dead center, occur, the dog 115 will turn upwardly on its pivot a slight distance suflicient to overcome such dead center. By reference to Figs. 6 and 8 it will be seen that if a voting member has been turned a reasonable amount toward the vot ing position the engagement of its counter dog with the corresponding counter pin will be positively insured, but unless a voting member is turned from the non-voting position such reasonable amount said member will be locked out of operation.

One of the double links 112 of each pair is provided with a stud 126 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 15) which extends through a slot 127 in upright portions of the corresponding frame member 42 and engages the arm 101 on the latch 99 which locks the correspond ing pin locking slide 93. By this construction when the cam bar 48 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the latch 99 is held firmly in engagement with the slide 93, holding the latter in locking position and preventing the fraudulent disconnection of any of the voting members from the party bars, as by an election clerk when inspecting the counters.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 17 and 20, 128 denotes latches which are secured to yokes 129 pivoted on the pins 68. The latches 128 extend through openings 130 in the upright portions of the frame members 42 and engage the notches in the plates 71 secured to the resetting bars. Said latches are provided with inclined cam projections 131 which are engaged by the ends of the actuating bars 107 when said bars are moved toward the left, thereby raising the latches out of engagement with the notches in the plates 71. 82 secured in the upright portions of the frame members 42. Each dog is provided with a tooth 83 (see Fig. 19) adapted to engage notches 84 in the corresponding link 57 which connects the party lever and party bar. Said dogs are so arranged as to fall by gravity into the position in which their teeth 83 will engage the notches 84, but may, as herein shown, be depressed into this position by means of springs 132, each of which engages at one end an opening in the correspondmg dog 81 and is secured at the other 1n an opening in the upright portion of the 81 denotes dogs pivoted on pins corresponding frame member 42. 133 (see 90 also Fig. 16) denotes slides supported and guided upon the pins 68 and 82. To this end each slide is formed with a slot 13a through which the pin 82 extends and with a forked end 135 embracing the pin 68. The slides 133 are provided with flanges 136 which engage cam surfaces 137 on the dogs 81 and lift said dogs against the tension of the springs 132 to carry the teeth 83 out of the notches 84 when said slides are moved to the right as shown in Fig. 17. This is the normal position of the parts. 138 denotes lugs projecting from the plates 65 riveted to the party bars 37, and which lugs are adapted, when said party bars are moved toward the left, to engage flanges 139 on the slides 133 and carry said slides toward the left,

' thereby causing the flanges 136 to disengage the cam surfaces 137 on the dogs 81 and permit said dogs to drop into the position in which the teeth 83 will engage the notches or teeth 84. 140 denotes lugs projecting from the resetting bars 38 and adapted. when said bars are moved to the right, t engage the out-turned ends 1 11 of the slides 133 and carry said slides to the right int their normal position, thereby raising the teeth 83 of the dogs 81 out of engagement with the notches or teeth 8 1, as above explained.

The voting operation in general is as follows: The machine is normally locked and this position of the parts is shown in Fig. 1. The first act of a voter is to move the main operating lever 3st downward from the position shown in Fig. 1, which oscillates the shaft 35 and raises the cam bar 48. As the cam bar moves upward the cam slots 51 will move the links 52 to the left, the pins 53 moving in the slots in the party and resetting bars. During the last part of the upward movement of the cam bar, and after the operation just described, the inclined portions 123 of the cam slots 11 1, by engagement with the pins 113, will move the links 112 and actuating bars 107 toward the left, causing the ends of said actuating bars, by engagement with the cam projections 181 to raise the latches 128 and unlock the resetting bars. The machine is now in condition for voting. hen a party lever is operated, its inner end, by engagement with the link 57 connected with the corresponding party bar, causes said party bar to be operated, which carries all of the voting members in that particular line to the Voting position. During the movement of the party bar toward the left the corresponding catch 67 will ride up the incline 66 clearing the notches in the plate 71 on the resetting bar, and leaving said bar unlocked and free to be moved toward the left by a voting memher. At this time, the inclined flange 159 at the end of the corresponding arm 79 comes in contact with the adjacent angular lug 80 and moves the locking bar 47 upward. The effect of this movement is to unlock all other party lines, permitting split voting. Having cast a straight party vote, the voter, should he desire to scratch any of the candidates of his part-y, does so by moving the voting members corresponding with the candidates for whom he does not desire to vote from the voting position, to which they have been moved by the party lever and party bar, to the non-voting position. This movement is permitted by the slots 76 in the corresponding resetting bar. Should he desire to split, that is, cast votes for candidates of another party, he does so by moving the corresponding voting members from the nonvoting to the voting position. This movement is permitted by the slots 77 in the party bars. In order to prevent a voter who has voted a straight party ticket and then split upon one .or more candidates of his party from afterward operating the same party lever again, the dogs 81 are provided. When the party bar is moved toward the left by operation of the party lever the corresponding link 57 moves toward the left beyond the tooth 83 of the dog before thelug 138 engages the flange 139 on the slide 138 and moves the same far enough toward the left to permit the dog to drop and the tooth 83 to engage the notches or teeth 8-1. But when a voter scratches a candidate for whom he has already voted, the return of the corresponding Voting member from the voting to the non-voting position will, through the engagement of the pin 7 5 of the voting member with the slot 7 7 in the party bar, move said bar toward the right far enough to permit the dog to engage the notches or teeth 84: of the link 57.

hen the voter leaves the machine after having cast his vote he raises the main operating lever 3a, which turns the shaft 35 back to its normal position and lowers the cam bar 48. The first part of the downward movement of the cam bar 48 causes the inclined portions 123 of the cam slots 114 to move the actuating bars 107 toward the right, releasing the latches 128 and operating and locking the counter dogs to insure their proper cooperation with the counter pins, as above explained. During the exit operation of the main operating mechanism, the counter grid is moved, as before explained. By reason, however, of the form of the openings 45 through which the counter pins at project, and as explained in Letters Patent No. 999,621, above referred to, during the initial portion of the movement of the counter grid said counter pins are retained for a moment in their original positions. The movement of the actuating bars toward the right takes place during the initial portion of the downward movement of cam bar 48, and accordingly causes the proper cooperative engagement of the counter dogs with the counter pins before said counter pins have moved out of their initial positions, Continued downward movement of the cam bar 48 causes the cam slots 51, through links 52, to return the party bars and resetting bars to their normal positions by moving them toward the right and also, through the engagement of the pins of the voting members with the slots 7 0 of the resetting bars, to return all opera-ted voting members to their normal position. The movement of the resetting bars toward the right also withdraws the arms 79 from the lugs 80, releasing the locking bar 17 and catches 67. lVhen said resetting bars reach the extreme of their movement toward the right, said catches 67 together with the latches 128, which have been released by the actuating bars 107, ongage the notches in the plates 71 carried by said resetting bars and lock said resetting bars. The actuating bars 107 are held in their position toward the right during the operation of the counting mechanism, which takes place before the return of operated voting members to their normal position, by the resetting b Thereafter the resetting of the operated voting members necessitates their passing the dogs 115 on the bars 107, and this is permitted by the enlargements 124: in the cam slots 11-t which allow the bars 107 to move toward the left during the resetting of the voting members. Thereafter the engagement of the upper ends of the slots 11 1 with the pins 113 causes the links 52 to be held in their extreme position toward the right, thereby holding the lugs 126 in engagement with the arms 101 of the latches 99, and preventing the disconnection of any of the voting members from their party bars when the machine is in normal locked condition.

The general features of construction and arrangement of the party bars 37 and resetting bars 38, their connections with the cam bar 48 and with the voting members, the connections of the party bars with the party levers, the locking bar 47 with catches 67, cooperating with said party and resetting bars, and the dogs 81 for preventing a second forward movement of the party bars after a return movement thereof, are disclosed and claimed in my prior applications Serial Nos. 509,991 and 608,383, above referred to, and such common subject mat-ter forms no part of the present invention. The present invention, however, comprises certain important modifications of, additions to, and improvements in these parts, all of which are hereinbefore described and hereinafter particularly pointed out in the claims.

60 and 61 (Fig. 17 denote parts of a wedge system constituting an interlock between the party levers, whereby when a party lever is moved to voting position, all of the other party levers are locked in nonvoting position.

72 (Figs. 1 and 17 denotes the restricting shaft which is provided outside the easing in front with a restricting lever (not shown) under the control of the custodian. The restricting shaft operates restricting mechanism the purpose of which is to lock the party levers and certain of the voting members against voters of limited franchise who are not entitled to vote for candidates represented by the voting members so locked.

73 denotes the releasing shaft, which is provided with means for raising the looking bar 47 to release the catches 67 and unlock the party lines, and which is provided outside the casing at the back with a releasing lever (not shown). The purpose of the releasing mechanism is to enable a voter to vote scattering for the candidates of different parties, or to vote for candidates for a part only of the offices to be voted for, without first operating a party lever, as would otherwise be necessary in order to unlock the individual voting members.

46 denotes a special resetting bar for the mechanisms last described which is connected with the cam bar 48 by links 55 similar to the links 52.

The wedge system, the restricting mechanism for the candidate keys and party levers, and the releasing mechanism are not shown or described in detail herein as they form no portion of the present invention, being disclosed and claimed in my prior applications above referred to.

Voting machines for general use are re quired to be provided with question voting members which enable voters to vote yes or no upon questions submitted. It not infrequently happens, however, that restricted voters are entitled to vote upon certain of the questions submitted and not upon others. Moreover, in some localities the election requirements are such that provision must be made forvoting upon a considerable number of questions or propositions, whereas, in others there may be very few such questions or propositions to be voted upon or even none at all. The present invention includes improved question mechanism which will enable the restricting principle to be applied to question voting, and which mechanism is of such a character that the machine can be readily modified to meet varying requirements with respect to question and other voting without material change in its general organization. This mechanism is as follows, reference being had to Figs. 1, 3 to 5, and 9 to 14: 320 (see Figs. 3, 4; and denotes question voting keys which are mounted on voting member shafts 410 journaled in a frame member 42 and provided with counter dogs 480. The voting keys 320, shafts 410, and counter dogs 430 are similar in all respects to the voting keys 32, shafts 41 and counter dogs 43, except that the regular or candidate voting keys normally extend toward the right from the voting member shafts, as shown in Fig. 2, and are turned downwardly to place the voting members in voting position, whereas the keys 320 normally extend toward the left from their shaft and are turned upwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, to place the voting members in Voting position. The question voting members are arranged in horizontal lines similar to the party lines of regular voting members, the voting members in the party and question lines being substantially the same in number and arrangement. In Fig. 1 the number of question voting members shown is one less than the number of voting members in each party line. This is for the reason that an odd number of voting members is shown in each party line, whereas an even number of voting members is employed in each question line, since said question voting members are grouped in pairs, there being a pair for each question or proposition. One voting member of each pair is operated to vote yes and the other is operated to vote no. The voting member shafts 410 are provided with arms 740, similar to the arms 74, which are connected by pins 7 50, similar to the pins 75, with connecting or locking bars 370 and 380. The pins 750 are operable to connect the question voting members with and disconnect them from the bar 370 in the same manner in which the regular voting members are connected with and disconnected from the party bars. A locking slide similar to the slide 93 is preferably provided to lock the pins 750 in adjusted position, such a slide being indicated by dotted lines 930 in Fig. 3. The bars 370 and 330 are similar to and correspond in arrangement with the party and resetting bars 37 and 38, respectively, with the exception that the slots 760 therein are alike for both bars and correspond in arrangement with the slots 76 in the resetting bars 38, as best shown in Fig. 1. Said bars 370 and 380 are connected with the cam bar 48 by double links 520 similar in all respects to the links 52. The actuating bar or bars 107 for the question line or lines may be exactly the same as for the party lines, the latch or latches 128 controlled thereby cooperating with lugs 710 on plates riveted to the bars 380. For clearness in illustration the actuating bar is omitted in Fig. 3.

The question voting members of each pair are connected by interlocking mechanism whereby when one of said members has been operated or moved into the voting position the other of said members is locked against operation. This mechanism is shown mostclearly in Figs. 3, 4, 9 and 10. 142 denotes plates having forked ends embracing and sliding upon the voting member shafts 410, there being a pair of these plates for each pair of question voting members, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. 143 denotes cam plates interposed between the plates 142 of each pair, the plates 142 and 143 being securely riveted together to form a substantially unitary structure. The cam plates 143, which are symmetrical in form, cooperate with cam arms 144 carried by the shafts 410. Said cam arms preferably comprise fiat metal plates having open ings shaped to receive and fit the non-cir cular shafts 410. Normally, or when both voting members of a pair are in the nonvoting position, one-of the cam arms 144 extends upwardly and the other downwardly, as shown in Fig. 9. Vhen one of the voting members is operated or moved to voting position the cam arm 144 thereon engages the cam plate 143, forcing the same laterally toward the other voting member, as shown in Fig. 10. Operation of said other voting member or movement thereof into the voting position, is at this time prevented by engagement of its cam arm 144 with the cam plate 143. The plates 142 are spaced from the back plate 31 by washers 156 and from the arms 740 by a washer 157 and a removable pin 158, said pin limiting the longitudinal movement of the shaft 410 with respect to the parts thereon.

The engagement of the pins 750 carried by the question voting member arms with the slots 7 60 in the bars 370 and 380 is such properly that by locking these bars against movement toward the left, as shown in Fig. 1, the voting members in the corresponding line will all be locked against operation. The restricting mechanism comprises means for locking either of these bars, thereby providing for either partial or total restriction, as will now be explained, reference being had particularly to Figs. 11 to 14. The left ends of the bars 370 and 380 are supported and guided in a bracket 145 riveted to upright portions of the frame members 42. 146 and 147 denote bolts slidably mounted in openings in the front wall of the casing 30 and in openings in the upright portions of the frame members 42. Said bolts are provided outside the casing in front with operating handles 148 by which the bolts may be operated by the custodian. Inside said casing the bolts 146 and 147 are provided with pins or stops 149 adapted to engage the inner face of the casing wall and limit the outward movement of said bolts. The left ends of the bars 370 and 380 are notched or cut away, as shown most clearly in Figs. 11 and 14, in such a manner that the bolt 146, when moved inwardly, or to the right in Fig. 11, will occupy a position opposite the end of the bar 370 preventing movement thereof toward the left in Fig. 14. Said bolt 146, however, lies opposite the notch in the end of the bar 380 and therefore has no locking effect upon this bar. Similarly, the bolt 147 is arranged, when moved inwardly, to lock the bar 380 but not the bar 370. In order that the reduced ends of the bars 370 and 380 may be supported and guided at both sides, these ends are arranged to overlap slightly, and one of the locking bolts (herein the bolt 146), which are also guided upon one another, is notched or cut away, as at 150, so as to permit such overlapping without interference with the proper operation of the parts as above explained.

151 denotes latches mounted to slide in upper and lower arms of a bracket 152 riveted to the casing wall, said latches being pressed in opposite directions by a spring 153. Said latches 151 are provided with angular or beveled ends 154 adapted to engage recesses 155 in the bolts 146 and 147 to position and yieldingly retain said bolts.

In order to prepare the machine for partial restriction, the pins 750 are so adjusted as to connect with the bar 370 all voting members which are to be locked against the restricted voter and to disconnect therefrom all voting members which are not to be so locked. The pins 750, however, whether retracted or not, permanently connect the voting members with the bar 380. As shown, the parts are in the position for unrestricted question voting. If there is to be no question voting at all, the bolt 147 will be ushed inwardly, bringing its end opposite t e end of the bar 380 and locking the same against movement toward the left. As all of the voting members in that line are permanently connected with said bar 380, they will all be locked against operation. This is the condition of total question restriction. In order to apply the partial restriction, that is to say, to adjust the machine for the voter of limited franchise, who is entitled to vote upon some but not all of the questions proposed, the bolt 146 is pushed inwardly, bringing its end opposite the end of the bar 370 and locking said bar. All voting members which are connected by their pins 750 with the bar 370 will thereupon be locked against operation, leaving all others unlocked.

It will be seen that the question voting mechanism above described is quite similar, in its arrangement and connections with the other parts of the machine, to the party lines of regular voting members. In constructing and arranging a machine which will conform to the voting requirements of any given locality a line of question voting members may therefore be readily substituted for a party line, and vice versa, without other material change in the machine. While only one row of four question voting members, and only two regular party lines of five voting members each are shown herein in Fig. 1, it will be obvious that these rows or lines may be of any desired number and that the number of voting members in each line or row may be in accordance with requirements or convenience.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with counters, voting members movable to engage and disengage said counters respectively, a bodily movable carrier for said counters, and means to actuate said counter carrier to cause the operation of all counters engaged by voting members, of automatic means for positively insuring the complete engagement or disengagement of each voting member with its counter.

2. The combination with counters, voting members having counter dogs, said voting members being movable to cause said counter dogs to engage and disengage said counters respectively, a bodily movable carrier for said counters, and means to actuate said counter carrier to cause the operation of all counters engaged by counter dogs, of automatic means directly engaging and moving said counter dogs for positively insuring the complete engagement or disengagement of each counter dog with its counter.

3. The combination with counters, a cam bar, and voting members movable to engage and disengage said counters, of means actuated by said cam bar for resetting operated voting members, and means actuated by said cam bar for positively insuring the proper cooperation of said voting members and counters.

4:. The combination with counters and voting members movable to engage and disengage said counters, of an actuating bar, pivoted dogs carried by said bar, and means for operating said bar to cause said dogs to engage said voting members.

5. The combination with counters and voting members movable to engage and disengage said counters, of an actuating bar, pivoted dogs carried by said bar, said dogs and bar being provided with cooperating means for limiting the movement of said dogs on their pivots, and means for operating said bar to cause said dogs to engage the voting members.

6. The combination with counters and voting members comprising shafts provided with means for engaging said counters, of a bar supported and guided on said voting member shafts, means on said bar for engaging said voting members, and means for actuating said bar.

7. The combination with counters and voting members comprising shafts provided with means for engaging said counters, of a bar provided with slots through which said voting member shafts pass, means on said bar for engaging said voting members, and means for actuating said bar.

8. The combination with counters and voting members comprising shafts provided with means for engaging said counters, of a bar provided with inclined slots through which said voting member shafts pass, means on said bar for engaging said voting members, and means for actuating said bar.

9. The combination with counters and voting members comprising shafts provided with means for engaging said counters, of a bar provided with inclined slots through which said voting member shafts pass, pivoted dogs carried by said bar, said dogs and bar being provided with cooperating means for limiting the movement of said dogs on their pivots, and means for actuating said bar to cause said dogs to engage said voting members.

10. The combination with counters, a bodily movable counter carrier, voting members operable to engage and disengage said counters, and means for resetting operated voting members, of a longitudinally movable bar provided with means for engaging said voting members, and means for successively actuatin said bar and resetting means.

11. The combination with counters and voting members comprising shafts provided with arms and with means for engaging said counters, of actuating bars having side portions embracing said arms, said side portions being provided with inclined slots through which said voting member shafts pass, said actuating bars having also top portions provided with slots, dogs pivoted to said actuating bars between said side portions and extending through the slots in said top portions, said dogs being provided with notches engaging said top portions, and means for operating said actuating bars to cause said dogs to engage said arms.

12. The combination with counters and voting members comprising shafts provided with arms and with means for engaging said counters, of actuating bars havin side portions embracing said arms, said side portions being provided with slots through which said voting member shafts pass, dogs pivoted to said actuating bars between said side portions, and means for operating said actuating bars to cause said dogs to engage said arms.

13. The combination with counters, voting members operable to engage said counters, and resetting bars connecting said voting members, of actuating bars provided with means for engaging said voting members to insure the proper cooperation thereof with said counters, a cam bar having a plurality of series of cam slots, links connected with said resetting bars and having means engaging the cam slots of one series and links connected with said actuating bars and having means engaging the cam slots of the other series.

1 1. The combination with counters, voting members operable to engage said counters, and resetting bars connecting said voting members, of actuating bars provided with means for engaging said voting members to insure the proper cooperation thereof with said counters, a cam bar having a plurality of series of cam slots, links connected with said resetting bars and having means engaging the cam slots of one series, links connected with said actuating bars and having means engaging the cam slots of the other series, said last named cam slots having enlargements to permit reverse move ment of said actuating bars during the actuation of said resetting bars by said first named cam slots.

15. The combination with counters and voting members movable to engage and disengage said counters, of a longitudinally movable actuating bar, means for engaging said voting members to insure the proper cooperation thereof with said counters, said means comprising pivoted dogs carried by said bar, said voting members and dogs be ing formed with sharp cooperating edges,

and means for operating said bar to cause said dogs to engage said voting members.

16. The combination with counters and voting members provided with arms and with means for engaging said counters, said arms being formed with sharp edges, of an actuating bar, pivoted dogs carried by said bar, said dogs being formed with actuating surfaces and locking surfaces which meet to form sharp edges cooperating with the edges on said arms, and means for operating said bar to cause said dogs to engage said arms.

17. The combination with movable counters and voting members, said voting members comprising oscillatory shafts and counter dogs for engaging said counters as said shafts are oscillated, of means separate from said shafts for positioning said counter dogs relative to said counters.

18. The combination with movable counters and voting members comprising oscillatory shafts and counter dogs for engaging said counters as said shafts are oscillated, of means separate from said shafts for positioning said counter dogs relative to said counters, and automatic means for positively insuring the proper cooperation of said voting member dogs and counters.

19. The combination with counters and voting members comprising shafts and counter dogs, said counter dogs being mounted on said shafts for oscillation therewith to engage and disengage said counters, and said counter dogs and shafts being relatively movable in the direction of the length of said shafts, of means separate from said shafts for positioning said counter dogs relative to said counters.

20. The combination of movable counters, frame members, and voting members, said voting members comprising oscillatory shafts and counter dogs for engaging said counters as said shafts are oscillated, and said frame members being provided with means engaged by said counter dogs for positioning said dogs relative to said counters.

21. The combination of counters, frame members, and voting members, said voting members comprising shafts and counter dogs for engaging said counters, and said frame members being provided with slots engaged by said counter dogs for positioning said dogs relative to said counters.

22. The combination of movable counters, frame members, and voting members, said voting members comprising oscillatory shafts and counter dogs for engaging said counters as said shafts are oscillated, and said frame members being provided with means for positioning said counters and with means engaged by said counter dogs for positioning said dogs relative to said counters.

93. The combination of counters having counter pins, frame members having openings to position said counter pins, and voting members comprising shafts and counter dogs for engaging said counter pins,said frame members being provided with means engaged by said counter dogs for positioning said dogs relative to said counter pins.

24. The combination of counters having counter pins, frame members having openings to position said counter pins, and voting members comprising shafts and counter dogs for engaging said counter pins, said frame members being provided with slots engaged by said counter dogs for position ing said dogs relative to said counter pins.

25. The combination of movable counters, frame members, and voting members, said voting members comprising oscillatory shafts journaled in said frame members and counter dogs for engaging said counters as said shafts are oscillated, and said frame members being provided with means for po sitioning said counter dogs relative to said counters.

26. The combination of movable counters, frame members, and voting members, said voting members comprising oscillatory shafts ournaled in said frame members and counter dogs for engaging said counters as said shafts are oscillated, and said frame members being provided with means for positioning said counters and with means for positioning said counter dogs relative to said counters.

27. The combination of counters, frame members, and voting members, said voting members comprising shafts and counter dogs, said counter dogs being mounted on said shafts for oscillation therewith to engage and disengage said counters and said counter dogs and shafts being relatively movable in the direction of the length of said shafts, and said frame members being provided with means engaged by said counter dogs for positioning said dogs relative to said counters.

28. The combination of counters, frame members, and voting members, said voting members comprising shafts journaled in said frame members and counter dogs, said counter dogs being mounted on said shafts for rotation therewith to engage and disengage said countcrs and said counter dogs and shafts being relatively movable in the direction of the length of said shafts, and said frame members being provided with means for positioning said counter dogs relative to said counters.

29. The combination of counters, frame members, and voting members, said voting members comprising shafts and counter dogs, said counter dogs being mounted on said shafts for rotation therewith to engage and disengage said counters and said counter dogs and shafts being relatively movable in the direction of the length of said shafts, and said frame members being provided with means for positioning said counters and with means engaged by said counter dogs for positioning said dogs relative to said counters.

30. The combination of counters, frame members, and voting members, said voting members comprising shafts journaled in said frame members and counter clogs, said counter dogs being mounted on said shafts for rotation therewith to engage and disengage said counters and said counter dogs and shafts being relatively movable in the direction of the length of said shafts, and said frame members being provided with means for positioning said counters and with means for positioning said counter dogs relative to said counters.

31. The combination with a pair of independently operable voting members comprising oscillatory shafts, of interlocking mechanism interposed between said voting members, said interlocking mechanism comprising a plate supported and guided on said shafts for sliding movement relative thereto and cooperating means on said voting members and plate whereby when a voting member is operated said plate is moved toward the other of said voting members.

82. The combination with a pair of independently operable voting members, of interlocking mechanism interposed between said voting members, said interlocking mechanism comprising a pair of laterally sliding plates arranged adjacent said voting members, a cam plate interposed between said first named plates and rigidly secured thereto, and means on said voting members for engaging said cam plate when a voting member is operated and moving the same toward the other of said voting members.

33. The combination wit-l1 a pair of independently operable voting members comprising oscillatory shafts, of interlocking mechanism inter-posed between said voting members, said interlocking mechanism comprising a laterally sliding plate arranged adjacent said voting members, cam arms on said shafts, and means on said plate engaged by said cam arms whereby when a voting member is operated said plate is moved toward the other of said voting members.

The combination with a pair of independently operable voting members comprising oscillatory shafts, of interlocking mechanism interposed between said voting members, said interlocking mechanism comprising a pair of laterally sliding plates arranged adjacent said voting members, a cam plate interposed between said first named plates and rigidly secured thereto, and cam arms on said shafts for engaging said cam plate when a voting member is operated and moving the same toward the other of said voting members.

35. The combination with voting mechanism comprising voting members arranged in a line, of locking mechanism for said voting mechanism comprising a bar connecting said voting members and movable by any one thereof, a sliding bolt for engaging and locking said bar, and yielding means for positioning and retaining said bolt.

36. The combination with voting mecha nism comprising voting members arranged in a line, of locking mechanism for said voting mechanism comprising a bar connecting said voting members and movable by any one thereof, a sliding bolt for engaging and locking said bar, and a spring pressed latch for positioning and retaining said bolt, said latch having a beveled end and said bolt having recesses to receive said end.

37. The combination with voting mechanism comprising voting members arranged in a line, of partial and total restricting mechanism for said voting mechanism comprising a bar connected with all of said voting members, a second bar connected with a part of said voting members and sliding bolts arranged to engage and lock said bars respectively.

38. The combination with question voting mechanism comprising voting members arranged in a line, of restricting mechanism for said question voting mechanism comprising a bar, means for detachably securing each of said voting members to said bar, and means for locking said bar.

39. The combination with voting mechanism comprising voting members arranged in a line, of partial and total restricting mechanism for said voting mechanism comprising a plurality of bars connecting said voting members and means for independently locking said bars respectively.

4L0. The combination with a framework and question voting mechanism comprising a plurality of voting me: bers mounted in said framework and arranged in a line, of partial and total restricting mechanism for said question voting mechanism comprising a plurality of bars connecting said voting members, bolts sliding in said framework and arranged to engage and lock said bars respectively, a pair of latches sliding in said framework for positioning and retaining said bolts, said latches having beveled ends and said bolts each having a plurality of recesses to receive the ends of said latches, and a spring interposed between said latches to press the same in opposite directions.

41. The combination with question voting mechanism comprising voting members arranged in a line, of partial and total restricting mechanism for said question voting mechanism comprising a pair of bars connecting said voting members and having overlapping reduced ends, means for sup porting and guiding said ends, and sliding bolts for engaging the ends of said bars respectively and locking said bars, the end of the bolt cooperating with one of said bars being notched to receive the end of the other of said bars.

42. The combination with question voting mechanism comprising voting members arranged in a line, of partial and total restricting mechanism for said question voting mechanism comprising a pair of bars, means for permanently connecting said voting members to one of said bars and for detachably connecting said members with the other of said bars, and devices for locking said bars respectively.

L3. The combination with voting mechanism comprising voting members arranged in a line, of partial and total restricting mechanism for said voting mechanism comprising a pair of bars, means for permanently connecting said voting members with one of said bars and for detachably connecting said membe s with the other of said bars, and sliding bolts for engaging and locking said bars respectively.

44. The combination with voting mechanism comprising voting members arranged in a line, of partial and total restricting mechanism for said voting mechanism comprising a pair of bars, means for permanently connecting said voting members with one of said bars and for detachably connecting said voting members with the other of said bars, and devices for independently locking said bars respectively.

L5. The combination with party lines of voting members, one or more lines of question voting members, a plurality of bars connecting the voting members in each line, and main operating mechanism operatively connected with said bars, of means for looking one of the bars of each line, and separate means operated by sair main operating mechanism for operating said locking means.

46. The combination with lines of voting members and a bar for each line, of means for detachably securing each of said voting members to the corresponding bar, manually releasable locking means for said socuring means, and automatic means for holding said locking means against release.

47. The combination with voting mem bers, party bars, and party levers for operating said party bars, of means for detachably securing each of said voting members to the corresponding party bar, mannally releasable locking means for said so- 

